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Gov. Jerry Brown has signed a bill aimed at bringing more electric-vehicle charging stations to multi-family parking lots. Thanks largely to the California Apartment Association, the measure won’t cost landlords tens of thousands of dollars, as originally proposed. AB 2565, as first introduced by Assemblyman Al Muratsuchi, D-Torrance, would have required that rental property owners with more than 50 parking spaces dedicate at least 1 percent of the spots to electric vehicles — and pay to install the equipment. The cost is roughly $6,500 to $15,000 per station. Following negotiations between all interested parties, however, the legislation now places the… Read More

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Gov. Jerry Brown has signed a bill authorizing judges to saddle plaintiffs with attorneys’ fees when they employ bad-faith tactics in litigation. The legislation, AB 2494 by Assemblyman Ken Cooley, D-Rancho Cordova, is intended to discourage frivolous lawsuits, as well as court action that’s intended solely to create unnecessary delays. The bill, signed by Brown Thursday, Sept. 18, is supported by the California Apartment Association.

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The California Apartment Association’s first Greater Bay Area Rental Housing Reverse Trade Show came to Oakland this month, earning positive reviews. Over 150 representatives from 10 of the Bay Area’s leading property management companies met with more than 50 industry partners. The event, held Sept. 10 at the Scottish Rite Center, started with a networking lunch that segued into scheduled 10-minute meetings. In a role reversal compared with a traditional trade show, the management companies were the exhibitors, and the industry partners were the attendees, getting valuable face time with prospective customers. In light of the positive feedback, CAA plans… Read More

Tagged: Tri-County

Several California cities have regained a novel legal tool for ridding apartments of drug and gun offenders. On Monday, Sept. 15, Gov. Jerry Brown signed a pair of bills, both supported by the California Apartment Association, that allow city prosecutors and city attorneys to file eviction lawsuits against certain types of criminal defendants in specified cities where a landlord requests assistance. The bills extend for five years pilot programs that expired at the end of 2013. AB 2485 by Assemblyman Roger Dickinson, D-Sacramento, authorizes a city attorney or prosecutor, rather than the landlord or property owner, in Sacramento to initiate… Read More

Tagged: Los AngelesSacramento ValleyLong Beach

Aliso Viejo’s proposed ban on smoking in multi-family housing fizzled this week as the City Council decided to consider adding a city ombudsman instead. Such an advocate would likely listen to residents’ complaints and suggestions and help address their concerns, whether they focus on smoking or other issues. Nearly a dozen CAA Orange County members provided critical public comment during the meeting. The City Council made the decision late Wednesday after nearly two years of debate. City staff had recommended against a smoking prohibition, contending that smoking in apartments is a private matter between apartment owners and tenants. Thanks to… Read More

Tagged: Orange County

Question: A couple recently applied for one of our vacant units. They have jobs but do not quite qualify for the unit (they need to make three times the amount of the rent). They said that his father would be willing to co-sign as a guarantor in order to qualify. How should I work this arrangement on the lease? Answer: Guarantor agreements are separate and distinct from the lease and may be rendered void if the lease is modified without the knowledge or consent of the co-signor or guarantor. Carefully drafted guarantee agreements can eliminate this risk. Question: One of… Read More

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Home to Hollywood, fame and fashion, Los Angeles nurtures a culture of cool. But as the sun beats down on L.A., the city’s countless rooftops also emit oven-like heat. A law taking effect Oct. 1 seeks to change that. Under changes to the Los Angeles Green Building code, new homes in the city — including rentals —  must have so-called “cool roofs.” Los Angeles is the first major city with this requirement. These roofs use materials that reflect sunlight, helping buildings be more than 50 degrees cooler on the surface. During a hot day, the roofing can lower a building’s… Read More

Tagged: Los Angeles

Bed bugs make folks miserable – and misinformation is helping keep it that way. Many Americans still believe that bed bugs are more common in lower-income households. Or that they’re attracted to dirty homes. Both notions are wrong and only further a stigma that exacerbates this growing problem. At the same time, the Internet teems with false information about prevention and control. Websites encourage property owners and tenants alike to tackle the problem themselves. All the while, bed bugs multiply and spread. If you’re a rental housing professional, it’s your duty to get the facts on these bloodsucking creatures. You’ll… Read More

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Question: I am a manager of a 56-unit complex. One of the tenants informed me that his girlfriend moved in. I gave him an application and told him to have her fill it out and then return it to me. It has been 10 days, and I have not gotten it back. Answer: If the lease prohibits the assigning or subletting of the premises without your permission, you can serve a three-day notice to perform conditions and/or covenants or quit, detailing the violation. The notice should require that they either turn in the application, or she must vacate the property… Read More

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In 2014, the California Apartment Association helped kill a host of bad bills that would have, among other things, undermined the Ellis Act and encouraged jury trials in eviction disputes. And while CAA largely succeeded during the legislative session, a couple of bad bills made it to the governor’s desk.The fight continues – see our links to letters — as CAA and a broad coalition of business interests encourage Gov. Jerry Brown to veto the following two bills: Faulty legislation on the governor’s desk AB 1897 (D-Hernandez) – Labor: Client Liability: This bill would imposes strict liability on an employer… Read More

Tagged: Tri-County